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This bar graph shows the annual salary for Legal Investigators.
Data sourced from O*NET Online, provided by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics wage estimates.
This line chart shows the projected job growth over 10 years for Legal Investigators.
Projected Growth Rate in Job Openings by 2031: 2%
Data sourced from CareerOneStop, provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties' legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.
Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
Before you decide to pursue a career as a legal investigator, it's important to have a clear understanding of what the job entails. Legal investigators are professionals who assist attorneys by gathering information and evidence for legal cases. Their tasks may include:
To become a legal investigator, you typically need a blend of education and experience. Here are some steps you can take:
Gaining relevant experience is crucial for building a career as a legal investigator. Here's how you can start:
While certification is not always mandatory, it can demonstrate professionalism and expertise:
Staying updated with the latest practices and expanding your professional network are important steps:
As you gain experience, you may want to specialize in a particular type of investigation:
By following these steps and continually improving your skills and knowledge, you can establish yourself as a competent legal investigator. Remember that success in this field relies on a combination of formal education, hands-on experience, and ongoing professional development.
A legal investigator, also known as a private investigator or PI, specializes in gathering information and evidence for legal cases. They work for law firms, private clients, or corporations to support legal proceedings by finding facts and compiling evidence.
To become a legal investigator:
Successful legal investigators typically possess:
No, they're not the same. Legal investigators usually work on civil cases, while police detectives focus on criminal cases. Additionally, legal investigators are often employed by private entities and do not have police powers.
Legal investigators can work on a wide range of cases, including:
Yes, there is demand for legal investigators. The need for skilled professionals to collect evidence for legal proceedings ensures continued relevance in the job market.
Absolutely. Legal investigators can specialize in areas such as:
Cyber investigation: Dealing with crimes conducted over the internet or involving digital data.
Joining professional organizations can provide networking opportunities, resources, and credibility. Some organizations include:
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Salaries for legal investigators vary based on experience, education, specialization, and geographic location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for private detectives and investigators was $53,320 per year as of May 2020.
The job outlook for legal investigators is positive. The BLS projects employment for private detectives and investigators to grow 8% from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Yes, continuing education is vital to stay up-to-date with legal procedures, technological advancements, and new investigative techniques. It also may be necessary to maintain certifications and licenses.